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The trumpet vine or trumpet creeper (Campsis spp.) is a cheerful, decorative perennial that livens up any garden. However, before you plant anything new in your garden, you’ll want to make sure it’s safe for all inhabitants. This includes goats, whose reputation as the garbage disposals of the animal kingdom isn’t always justified.

Trumpet Vine

Two main types of trumpet creeper exist: the native species, or trumpet creeper (Campsis radican), which is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, and the Chinese version (Campsis grandiflora), cultivars of which vary in their hardiness. “Morning Calm,” for instance, is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. Flowers are generally red, orange or peach-colored, and bloom at different times in the summer. They vary in height depending on species. While trumpet creeper can grow to 40 feet, “Morning Calm” tops out at 25.

Toxicity Levels

Trumpet creeper has a low concentration of unidentified toxic compounds that in humans will cause irritation, redness and swelling on the skin if touched, or in the mouth and throat if swallowed. This may account for its alternate name of “cow itch.” However, the problem is not severe: even when ingested, troublesome symptoms usually only last for a few minutes, and do not necessitate further action unless symptoms persist. Chinese trumpet vine does not appear alongside trumpet vine on the list of toxic plants compiled by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources program or the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

Danger to Goats

Although goats have a reputation for being able to eat anything and everything, including tin cans and old boots, this actually isn’t the case. Several things can mess up a goat’s stomach, and many are even poisonous or deadly to goats. Luckily, and despite the trouble it can cause a human, trumpet vine is probably fine for goats, as neither it nor Chinese trumpet creeper is not included in Cornell University's list of plants poisonous to goats; in fact, the Adkins Arboretum in Maryland specifically targeted trumpet creeper when using goats to control invasive weeds.

Safety Sense

Whenever you’re planting something new in your yard, make sure it is safe for any person or animal who regularly spends time in it. This includes children, who can be taught what is safe and what isn’t, but it also includes less discriminating dogs, cats and other pets, including goats, chickens, rabbits and other grazers. Before putting a novel plant in the ground, check its toxicity levels and either keep it away from animals, or else choose a non-toxic alternative.